Grappling-tool.



W. LEWIS.

GRAPPLING TOOL.

APPLICATxoN FILED MAY 29. 1918.

1 ,278, 36 1 Patented Sept. 10, 1918.

WITNESSES ATTO R N EY WILLIAM LEWIS, OF REYNOLDS, MISSOURI.

GRAPPLINGr-TOOL.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 10, 1918.

Application filed May 29, 1918. Seria1.No. 237,259.

To all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM Lewis, a citizen of the United States, residing at Reynolds, in the county of Reynolds and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grappling-Tools, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to grappling tools for removing disconnected pipes from wells and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed and efficient tool of this character which has few parts to get out of order and which will reliably grip a pipe to be lifted and may be easily released therefrom when desired.

Another object is to provide a simple and eflicient gripping member for a tool of this character.

Vith the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction .hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a tool constructed in accordance with this invention with parts broken Iout, and

Fig. 2 is an edge view thereof.

In the embodiment illustrated, the tool constituting this invention comprises a body member 1 having a head 2 at one end with a swiveled eye 3 mounted therein, and its other end tapered as shown at 4 to facilitate the insertion of the tool in a pipe to be lifted, the body member beingcut out between said head and tapered end with a shoulder 4 at the inner end of the tapered point 4 to form a stop to limit the outward swinging movement of a gripping element to be described.

The body 1 of this t'ool has an obliquely disposed bore 5 extending from edge to edge thereof intermediately of its ends and through which a cable 6 is designed to pass and be guided. This cable 6 is connected to a gripping member 7 shown in the form of a blade having a knife edge 8 at its free end the other end of which is secured to a yoke 9 which straddles the body 1 and the free ends of its arms are pivotally connected thereto at 10. A hcavyV coiled spring 11 has one end seated in the body'member 1 and its other end engaged with the inner face of the gripping member 7 near its free end and exerts its tension to normally force said member away from the body of the tool.

Biting spurs 12 are arranged 'on the edge of the body 1 opposed to that which carries the blades 7, any desired number of Said spurs being employed, three being here shown.

In the use of this tool, when it is desired to insert it in a pipe to be lifted, a pull on the cable 6 will operate t0 close the gripping member 0r clutch j aw 7 and permit the tool t'o be freely inserted in the pipe. When this cableis released the spring 11 will force the gripping element 7 out against the side wall of the pipe and the spurs l2 against the opposed side so that when the tool is lifted these elements will bite into the pipe and carry it with it, it being understood that a cable or other suitable lifting means is to be connected with the eye 3.

After the tool which is commonly known as a fishing grapple, carrying the pipe, has been withdrawn from the well and it is desired to disengage them, all that is necessary is to push the tool into the pipe and simultaneously pull on cable 6 thereby releasing and moving blade 7 inwardly against the tension of spring 11 and the tool may then be readily removed from the pipe.

The foregoing description and the drawings have reference to what may be considered the preferred or approved form of my invention. It is to be understood that I may make such changes in construction and arrangement and combination of parts, materials, dimensions, etc., as may prove expedient and fall within the scope of the claimed invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A tool of the class described comprising a body member, a gripping blade pivoted to swing toward and away from one face of said member, a spring arranged between said blade and member for normally forcing the blade outward, a bore extending obliquely with the free end of the blade and extended through said bore whereby a pull exerted on the cable wiil operate to move the blade toward ythe body.

2. A tool of the class described comprising a body member, a blade pivoted at one 'end to swing toward and away from one face of said body, a spring mounted between the free end of said blade and said body to normally force the blade away from the body, saidA body having a bore extending obliquely upward from a' point in advance of said blade, and a cable secured to the free end of said blade and extending through said bore.

3. A tool of the class described comprising aI body member, a yoke straddling said member with its free endspivotally engaged therewith, a gripping blade fixed at one end to the cross bar of said yoke and extending outwardly at an oblique angle with a knife edge at its free end, a spring disposed between the free end of said blade and said body for normally forcing the blade away from the body, and a cable connected with said blade and adapted to close it against the tension of said spring to provide for the v insertion of the tool and for its release.

4. A tool of the class described comprising a body member, aI yoke straddling said mem- Copies of this patent may be obtained for ber and pivotally connected therewith, a gripping blade carried by said yoke and eX- tending obliquely outward,'a coiled spring arranged between the free end of said blade and said body to normally force the blade out-ward, a stop for limiting the outward lshoulder operating as a stop to limit its outward swinging movement, spurs arranged on the face of said body opposed to that carrying the gripping blade, and a cable connected with the free end of said blade-and adapted to move it inwardly against the tension of said spring.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature in presenceof two witnesses.

WILLIAM LEWIS.

Witnesses:

MILTON E. RUBLE, C. K. ROBERTS.

five cents eachaby addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

